Source: Apple to move quickly on Merom-based systems

Unwilling to relent in its assault on the US notebook market, Apple Computer plans to adopt Intel Corp.'s latest mobile processors at a rapid pace, AppleInsider has learned.

The Cupertino, Calif.-based company has seen its share of the US notebook market double to 12 percent since announcing its first Intel-based notebook, the MacBook Pro, back in January.

In the three-month period ending July 1st, Apple reported record-setting shipments of Mac systems, including nearly 800,000 notebooks — 75 percent of which the company estimated were Intel-based.

So far, the success of Apple's Intel systems has hinged on a single line of processors, the 32-bit Core Duo series formerly code-named Yonah. But in recent weeks, Intel has rolled-out far more capable chips in its 64-bit line of Core 2 Duo processors, including a mobile variant known by its code-named Merom.

The news has lead to widespread speculation over precisely when and where the new mobile chips will take their seat in Apple's product lines.

According to a source familiar with the Mac maker's plans, the company is slated to receive mass shipments of the new Merom Core 2 Duo processors by the first week of September and plans to be amongst the first PC manufacturers to introduce systems based on the new chips.

Although Intel has been shipping Core 2 Duo processors to system manufacturers since last month, it has been doing so in extremely limited quantities that have not been substantial enough to support new product launches, the source added.

Intel has said that Merom will be available in five different clock speeds, each running on a 667MHz front-side bus. Versions running at 2.0GHz, 2.16GHz, and 2.33GHz will pack a 4MB Level 2 cache and retail in lots of 1000 for $294, $423 and $637 a piece, respectively.

Intel also plans 1.66GHz ($209) and 1.8GHz ($241) variants of Merom with 2MB of Level 2 cache, though its unclear if Apple will adopt the entry level variants.

They might do a paper launch, as has happened before, i.e. "these are available for pre-purchase today and will ship in four weeks".

Personally I think the low-end one would be perfect for an even cheaper laptop, to break into the <$1000 laptop market. Even competing with basically the same hardware (Core Duo), Apple's entry level machines are still $300 / 37% more than Dell's comparable systems - $1100 for the MacBook vs $800 for the Inspiron E1505, and the Dell is available in a cheaper model using the Core Solo.

I can't wait for these CPU's. I am going to buy one, open up my iMac and shove in a new 64bit Intel CPU. I just love a company that makes their current version of 32bit systems 64bit compliant. Sure I will only get a 20% performance kick, but with the Graphics stuff I do I will take it.

... still waiting on 10g flash drive for instant OS boot. i will not be buying new till that happens. Here that Apple. While you are making profits from every man and his dog you won't get my money till you have flash memory boot up. (that should get them moving

Damien - Dells also tend to be heavier and larger than Apple laptops. I carry my (large compared to a MB) 14" iBook around with extreme ease, but most of my friends with "notebooks" can't get them into their backpacks.

Not to mention the whole iSight, iLife, etc stuff.

Anyhow, on topic here - the Article nails the fact that most of Apple's growth is in notebooks, and will continue to be. In fact, it seems like younger people (sub-35) tend to just have notebooks. Which raises a question: Is Apple notebook popularity because Apple notebooks rock, or because potential Mac buyers prefer notebooks to desktops?

I hope that "quickly" means we'll see announcements across all the product lines within the next month or two. I'm not holding my breath for WWDC though. Will Apple be announcing new hardware Monday or Tuesday (their usual day of preference)? Anyone know when they got on their soap box in the past WWDCs?